Love the idea of lab work, and keen to work in health? You might want to study a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science at QUT, like Oskar
Have you ever needed to get a blood test, urine test or nose swab? Human and animal medicine relies on being able to test samples for diseases.
There are dozens of different laboratory tests and techniques that are used to understand these samples – all done by a specialist with a knack for solving puzzles.
Oskar, studying a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science at QUT, is learning how to become one of those specialists. He was drawn to the degree by the variety of subjects on offer: “I didn’t want to get bored,” he says.
Students in the course start with a thorough grounding in basic science, before looking at more specialised topics like microbiology, biochemistry and immunology.
QUT has a strong focus on hands-on experience, and classes are backed up by practical experience in labs each week. For instance, Oskar is fascinated by haematology, the study of blood.
“Maybe you learn about some blood cancers, and then you come to the lab and you actually look at those blood cancers with your own eyes,” he says.
By their third year at QUT, students are able to apply their knowledge to start diagnosing diseases from lab samples, something Oskar finds extremely satisfying and rewarding. “It ties into the real world where you have to do this as part of your job,” he says.
Oskar is about to start his fourth and final year of the degree, which involves placements at medical laboratories to get industry experience. If you graduate with this degree, you’ll already feel like a pro!
With demand for skilled pathologists increasing, QUT’s Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science opens the door to a truly fulfilling career.
This profile originally appeared in Careers with STEM: Health 2026, and was produced in partnership with QUT.
